Category Archives: Year 7

Sax-Zim Bog American Three-Toed Woodpecker!

Year 7

I spent the morning and early afternoon in Sax-Zim Bog.  A hike into the Winterberry Bog yielded a rare sighting, a male American Three-Toed Woodpecker. Given the remote wilderness areas this woodpecker inhabits, most folks would never see this bird. In addition, this woodpecker never visits feeders … flaking off bark for its tasty meals found underneath.

American Three-Toed Woodpecker

I also had fun watching this Northern Hawk Owl hunt. Just like when I last saw this bird almost 7 weeks ago, it is hanging out near a logging operation enjoying voles and mice scared up by crashing trees.

Northern Hawk Owl

Finally, for those of you in Florida, Molly and I are coming south. We will be in the Fort Myers area between January 23rd and 30th. Suggestions for birding excursions are definitely most welcome … perhaps even meeting some of you Floridians!

My thanks to Ed L. who took me over to the Bog today. While I am driving and my eyes are much, much better … it is nice to be a passenger.

Lake Superior Sunrise!

Year 7

40 minutes before sunrise while enjoying a morning read in front of the fireplace, I realized the light starting to appear through the pine trees heralded a beautiful sunrise. I quickly threw on some warm clothes and drove down to the Lake Superior shoreline near my house. The big lake did not disappoint!

Lester River Lake Superior Sunday Serenity Sunrise

The Lester River Bridge Twenty Minutes Before Dawn

For my birding friends, I then explored for over an hour the inland area between Duluth and Two Harbors. Nothing. It appears we will not have any owls setting up hunting territories this year on the North Shore. Sax-Zim Bog is ground zero for in that respect.

Sax-Zim Bog Success!

Year 7

Birding was tough yesterday. Although the weather was calm with lots of nice sun, the birds were not overly cooperative which begs the question … why was this excursion a success??? The answer is contained in this text my wife while birding: “I can see what I am not seeing!”. Vision is precious. My thanks my buddy, Jeff M., who met me in the Bog and then we birded together in his car letting me focus upon birding and not driving.

Although the birds were not willing to pose for this intrepid outdoorsman / photographer, it’s hard to spend an entire day in Sax-Zim Bog and not get a few photo opps.

Gray Jays (now known as a Canada Jay)

Snowy Owl on a Stick (waaaay out in the Byrns Greenhouse Fields)

Ruffed Grouse